Apparatus for stabilizing traumatized teeth



Aug. 29, 1967 M. w. REED 3,337,957

APPARATUS FOR STABILIZING TRAUMATIZED TEETH Filed April 9, 1965 INVENTOR Marvin W. Reed ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,337,957 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,337,957 APPARATUS FOR STABILIZING TRAUMATIZED TEETH Marvin W. Reed, 7481 Village Drive, Prairie Village, Kans. 66208 Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,844 6 Claims. (CI. 32-14) This invention relates generally to a dental appliance for stabilizing a traumatized tooth and more particularly to an attachment comprising a bendable metal plate adapted for contiguous mounting on the labial surface of an injured anterior tooth that is to be immobilized. Means including a ligature wire are provided for connecting one end of the plate with the neck portion of the tooth adjacent the gum line thereof and the other end of the plate is connected with the tooth by means of at least two integral longitudinal projections that are reversely bent back across the biting edge of the tooth and terminate in engagement with the lingual surface thereof.

In the treatment of traumatized anterior teeth, it is desired to immobilize the injured tooth as quickly, painlessly and economically as possible, and to maintain the tooth stationary for a sufiicient period of time (normally on the order of several weeks, depending on the severity of the injury) to permit healing of the tissue surrounding the tooth. Consequently, the treatment of a traumatized tooth diflfers materially from conventional orthodontic procedures utilized in the straightening of teeth, wherein the teeth are continuously adjusted over a period of years to obtain a desired permanent tooth arrangement.

Conventional orthodontic appliances normally include a plurality of circular metal bands that are mounted about the peripheries of the individual teeth, respectively. Metal arch wires are connected with attaching lugs or the like carried by the respective bands for interconnecting the teeth to effect straightening thereof. Examples of these known orthodontic appliances are presented in the patents to Angle No. 1,584,501, Schurter No. 2,686,365 and Kesling No. 2,915,824, among others. While this type of orthodontic appliance could be used for treating traumatized teeth, the mounting of the circular bands on traumatized teeth is quite painful and time consuming, and often results in undesirable spreading of the teeth.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved dental appliance for use in immobilizing one or more traumatized anterior teeth, the invention being characterized by the use of attachment means including a plat element that is mounted on the labial surface of the crown portion of the tooth.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an attachment for anterior teeth, said attachment comprising a plate that is arranged on the labial surface of a tooth and is connected at one end to the neck portion of the tooth by ligature wire means. The invention is characterized by the provision of one or more laterally-spaced projections that extend longitudinally from the other end of the plate, each of said projections including successive first, second and third portions that engage the labial, biting edge and lingual surfaces of the tooth, respectively.

According to a further object of the invention, each plate attachment is provided, intermediate its ends, with attachment lugs that are bent outwardly from the labial surface of the tooth to positions normal to the plate element. In accordance with a further object of the invention, when a plurality of such attachments are mounted on the traumatized tooth and on the teeth on either side thereof, 7

respectively, the outwardly projecting lugs may be embedded in an arch bar consisting of a mass of self-curing synthetic plastic material (for example, an acrylic resin or the like) that hardens to rigidly immobilize one or more traumatized teeth between a pair of healthy teeth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dental attachment consisting of a generally rectangular plate the corner portions at one end of which are bent outwardly to define triangular ears that extend at right angles to one surface of the plate. These ears contain openings for receiving a ligature wire by means of which the said one end of the plate is connected with the neck of the tooth. Connected with the side edges of the plate intermediate the ends thereof are a pair of T-shaped attaching lugs that are bendable to positions at right angles to the plate for embedding in a hardenable self-curing mass defining an arch bar. Extending longitudinally from the other end of the plate are a pair of laterally-spaced projections that are reversely bent back on the opposite side of the plate from the ears and the lugs. These reversely bent rojections are adapted to extend across the biting or cutting edge of the tooth and to prevent movement of the plate in a longitudinal direction away from the cutting edge of the tooth. These plates may be provided in various sizes, depending on the size of the teeth to which they are to be attached.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are front and bottom views, respectively, of the upper teeth of the mouth illustrating the use of the present invention in stabilizing the upper right central incisor;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are front and side elevational views,

respectively, of the attachment plate of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURES 6 and 7 are detailed front and rear views of the upper right central incisor with the attachment plate mounted thereon.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the stabilizing appliance 2 has been illustrated as mounted on the anterior teeth of the upper jaw for stabilizing a traumatized upper right central incisor 4. It is assumed that all of the remaining upper teeth (left central incisor '6, right and left lateral incisors 8 and 10, right and left cuspids 12 and 14, right and left first bicuspids 16 and 18, right and left second biscuspids 20 and 22, and the six molars 24) are uninjured.

In accordance with the present invention, separate attachment plates 26 are mounted on the labial surfaces of the crown portions of the traumatized tooth and the adjacent teeth on each side thereof. As will be described in greater detail below, each of the attachment plates is provided with a pair of outwardly extending T-shaped lugs 28 that are embedded in an arch bar or wire 30 consisting of a mass of hardenable self-curing synthetic plastic material (such as an acrylic, monomer or polymer synthetic plastic material). As will be seen in FIGURE 2, the plates 26, the attaching lugs 28, and the arch bar 30 are all arranged on the labial side of the anterior teeth.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, each of the plates 26 consists of a generally rectangular body stamped from a sheet of bendable soft metal or metal alloy (such as yellow or white gold, a chrome-steel alloy, a cobalt alloy,

or the like). The generally T-shaped attaching lugs 28 include bridging portions 28a connected with the side edges of the body portion of the plate. These lugs are bendable to positions normal to the plate body as shown in FIGURE 2. At one end, the plate includes triangularshaped slightly-rounded corner portions 32 that contain openings 34. These corner portions are bendable outwardly (along line 36) to positions normal to the body portion of the plate as will be described below with reference to FIGURES -7. At the other end, the plate 26 includes a pair of laterally-spaced longitudinally extending projections 38 that are reversely bendable across the cutting edge of a tooth into continguous engagement with the lingual surface of the tooth.

Referring now to FIGURES 5-7, the body portion of plate 26 is arranged contiguously on the labial surface of the crown portion of tooth 4 with the end containing the cars 32 being adjacent the tooth gum line 40. This end of the plate is connected with the neck portion of the tooth by a ligature wire 42 that extends through the opening 34 in one car, back around the tooth, and through the other opening 34, whereupon the ends of the ligature wire are joined by a twisted connection 44. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 6, the connection 44 is arranged between and is protected by, the ears 32. At the other end, the longitudinal projections 38 are reversely bent so that successive portions 38a, 38b and 380 contiguously engage the labial, cutting edge and lingual surfaces, respectively, of the tooth.

Following the separate mounting of the plates on the three anterior teeth 4, 6 and 8 as shown in FIGURE 1, the arch bar 30 of hardenable self-curing synthetic plastic material, in the plastic state, is pressed upon the outer surfaces of the plates to cause the outwardly extending T-shaped lugs 28 to become completely embedded therein. The teeth and bar are maintained stationary during the time required for curing of the plastic mass (on the order of one to fifteen minutes, depending on the specific composition of the plastic material). Owing to the smooth surface of the arch bar 30, the patients li-p is protected against irritation by the attachment plates.

The appliance is now worn by the patient for the time required to etfect normal healing of the tissue surrounding the traumatized tooth (ranging from three to six weeks or more, depending on the severity of the injury). Owing to the reversely bent projections 38, the traumatized tooth is maintained completely immobile during normal activities of the patient and is restrained against elongation. Upon completion of the treatment, the stabilizing appliance may be easily removed by cutting the three ligature wires and by lowering the arch bar and plate assemblage from the teeth.

The plates 26 may be provided in various sizes, depending upon the size of the teeth to be stabilized, the age, size and sex of the patient, and so forth. While normally the plates are designed for use with the upper and lower central and lateral incisors, it is possible to adapt the same for mounting on the labial surfaces of the ouspids and, in some cases, the bicuspids. In the event that more than one anterior tooth is injured, it is possible that the stabilizing appliance will include a plastic bar connected with the arch wire lugs of attachment plates mounted on certain teeth in accordance with the present invention, and corresponding lugs on conventional band type at.- tachment means mounted on one or more of the cuspids, bicuspids or molars.

Although in the sheet metal stamping of FIGURE 3 the T-shaped lugs 28 have been illustrated in the form of integral portions connected with the side edges of the body portion of the plate, it is apparent that these elements may consist of one or more partially punched out areas contained within the outer periphery of. the rectangular body portion.

While in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes the preferred form and embodiment of the in vention has been illustrate-d and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other changes may be made in the described device without deviating from the invention set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for an anterior tooth, comprising a generally rectangular plate having at one end a pair of corner portions bent forwardly along angularly disposed fold lines to define triangular-shaped ears extending from one side of said plate, each of said ears containing an aperture, said plate including at its other end a plurality of parallel spaced longitudinally extending projections each being reversely bent into a generally U-shaped configuration extending from the opposite side of said plate, the side edges of said plate intermediate its ends including a pair of arch wire lugs bent outwardly to extend from and generally normal to said one side of said plate, whereby when said plate is positioned on the labial surface of the tooth with the U-shaped longitudinal projections extending around the cutting edge of the tooth, the other end of the plate may be connected With the tooth by means of a ligature wire extending through both said apertures and around the neck portion of said tooth.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said attaching lugs has a generally T-shaped configuration the lower extremity of the vertical portion of which is connected with the edge portion of said plate.

3. An attachment for an anterior tooth, comprising a generally rectangular bendable metal plate having at one end a pair of corner portions bent forwardly along angularly disposed fold lines to define triangular-shaped ears extending from one side of said plate, each of said ears containing an opening, said plate including at its other end a plurality of parallel spaced longitudinally extending projections each being reversely bent into a generally U-shaped configuration extending from the opposite side of said plate, the side edges of said plate intermediate its ends including a pair of arch wire lugs bent outwardly to extend from and generally normal to said one side of said plate, so that said plate may be positioned against the labial surface of the tooth with the longitudinal U-shaped projections extending around the cutting edge of the tooth;

and a generally circular ligature wire extending through said ear openings and adapted to extend around the neck portion of the tooth. 4. An appliance for stabilizing a traumatized tooth between a pair of other teeth, at least one of said teeth being an anterior tooth,

comprising a plurality of attachment means individually mounted on each of said teeth, respectively, each of said attachment means including arch wire lug means extending outwardly from one side thereof;

and arch wire means connected with the lug means of each of said attachment means;

at least that one of said attachment means that is associated with the anterior tooth comprising, a generally rectangular bendable metal plate having at one end a pair of corner portions bent forwardly along angularly disposed fold lines to define triangular-shaped ears extending from one side of said plate, each of said ears containing an opening, said plate including at its other end a plurality of parallel spaced longitudinally extending projections each being reversely bent into a generally U-shaped configuration extending from the opposite side of said plate, the side edges of said plate intermediate its ends including a pair of generally T-shaped arch wire lugs bent outwardly to extend from and generally normal to said one side of said plate, so that said plate may be positioned against the labial surface of the tooth with the longitudinal U-shaped projections extending around the cutting edge of the tooth, and a generally circular ligature wire arranged in the openings in said ears and adapted to extend around the neck portion of the tooth.

5. An appliance as defined in claim 4 wherein said arch wire means comprises a bar of hardenable material in which said T-shaped lugs are embedded.

6. An appliance as defined in claim 5 wherein said hardena'ble material comprises a mass of self-curing synthetic plastic material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS How 32-14 Peak 3214 Schurter 3214 Brandau 12889 Berman et al. 3214 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Pnimary Examiner. 0 J. W. HINEY, Assistant Examiner, 

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR AN ANTERIOR TOOTH, COMPRISING A GENERALLY RACTANGULAR PLATE HAVING AT ONE END A PAIR OF CORNER PORTIONS BENT FORWARDLY ALONG ANGULARLY DISPOSED FOLD LINES TO DEFINE TRIANGULAR-SHAPED EARS EXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID PLATE, EACH OF SAID EARS CONTAINING AN APERTURE, SAID PLATE INCLUDING AT ITS OTHER END OF PLURALITY OF PARALLEL SPACED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PROJECTIONS EACH BEING REVERSELY BENT INTO A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PLATE, THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID PLATE INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS INCLUDING A PAIR OF ARCH WIRE LUGS BENT OUTWARDLY TO EXTEND FROM AND GENERALLY NORMAL TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID PLATE, WHEREBY WHEN SAID PLATE IS POSITIONED ON THE LABIAL SURFACE OF THE TOOTH WITH THE U-SHAPED LONGITUDINAL PROJECTIONS EXTENDING AROUND THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE TOOTH, THE OTHER END OF THE PLATE MAY BE CONNECTED WITH THE TOOTH BY MEANS OF A LIGATURE WIRE EXTENDING THROUGH BOTH SAID APERTURES AND AROUND THE NECK PORTION OF SAID TOOTH. 